Undescended testicle - Page 1

My husband has been browsing ads for another dog.  He found one male who is 9 weeks and has one undescended testicle and because of this he is "cheap".  At what age should both testicles be descended?  I thought this was kind of young to assume the other won't descend.

certainly it may still come down - the older the pup is the less likely, but 9 weeks is way too early to think it won't come down.

molly

Hello

Our CH Geran's All I Want for Christmas. did not have his second testicle until he was 15 weeks. Talk about a breeder sweating LOL

                                                                                                                                                                                      Gerald

We've just had some recent experience with this for the first time so here's what we've found in a nutshell.

1.  Cryptorchidism is the term used for undescended testicles.  Bilateral cryptorchidism involves both sides; i.e., neither testicle has descended into the scrotum. Unilateral cryptorchidism (also called monorchid) involves one side only; i.e., one testicle is retained or hidden, and one is descended.

2.  If you check with most vets as well as breeders, testicles should be descended by the age of 8 weeks.  If they aren't, chances are much higher that they won't come down at all.

3.  Puppies with undescended testicles are sold for lower prices because they aren't breedable or showable.  Cryptorchidism is considered a genetic birth defect so you never want to pass on this condition to future dogs.

4.  In doing some online research, there isn't clear-cut reason why this happens, or which parent passes it on, etc.  As a result, usually you shouldn't breed either parent again.

5.  Because the testicle is retained (usually in the abdomen), you'd need to eventually have surgery performed to get this testicle.  This is more involved than simply neutering the dog.  While vets like to scare you by saying your dog will get cancer right away, other studies and experiences I've read about say you don't need to rush your puppy in for surgery but can wait til he's about 2 or so.  Frankly, I've read studies on early neutering that say the lack of hormones can actually make dogs grow faster and taller than they would otherwise by having those hormones.  Just to be safe I think I'd wait til the dog has matured before taking them in for surgery.

My mom purchased a male and was told when we picked him up that one of his testicles hadn't dropped yet.  The breeder told her it can be common and that testicles usually drop within the first six months.  My mom had purchased him as breeding quality and luckily she does have a contract.

We took him in for a second puppy shot and the vet still found only one testicle.  We told him what the breeder said and his response was that in all his years of being a vet he never saw a puppy's testicles drop later on.  He basically told us there wasn't much hope.  Well, I searched for other information on the subject and while testicles can drop later on, I guess it's pretty rare.  While we really hoped they'd drop by 6 months, he's 10 months old and still has just one testicle.  We've had 5 boys over the years (4 being GSD's) and never had a problem with testicles before.  As always, life throws out a learning experience, so now we know!

Bottom line:  If you're not interested in breeding or showing, the testicle issue isn't a real concern.  My mom's boy is the sweetest guy, very smart and a real joy.  Just know that eventually he'll need surgery to prevent cancer that can be caused by the retained testicle and be sure to get a fair price.  Otherwise, if the puppy has the personality that matches what you want, he might be a good choice.

MomofBeckett

Simply Shepherds

Thank you for the responses, I just thought 9 weeks was a little early to tell for sure.  I'm aware of the testicle issue as I had a boy who had to have surgery to remove one undescended.  It's expensive and much more involved than a typical neuter.  I was hoping my hubby would get the "bug" to get another but I think he's jumping the gun just a bit.  First of all I need to get out of puppyhood with Drake (10 months) and since he's my first try at Schutzhund, I'd rather wait until I at least get through the training.  If I'm going to purchase a dog with the sport in mind I think it would be better to wait and also get a dog that has all appropriate parts in place.  Funny though how things turn around, I never in a million years thought he'd be wanting another dog and I'd be saying "not now".

I had a Labrador Retriever that had 1 testicle up until
he was 6 months old, then magically, his other one
decended, that's really sweat'n it!!

Then I owned a GSD that had 1 testicle, and I never had the other one
removed & he got cancer at the age of only seven, it seemed like it was
from the undecended testicle, cause it was in his liver, kidney & stomach area.

Sometimes the undecended one can be removed easily, but
sometimes it's so far in there that it turns into a big surgery.

is the vet who said they don't come down later a breeder?  No?  Most vets don't know what they are talking about when it comes to breeding/repro.  They simply don't see it often enough to be able to say "never saw it".  That's like vets who say umbilical hernias are 'always genetic".  BS, of course they are not always genetic, and breeders know that to be a fact.  Basically the testicles can come down anytime, as long as the ingunal ring is still open.  <usually> both are down by 8 weeks.  I like to be able to find both down by 8 weeks, and usually I can find them at 6 weeks.  But I don't worry too much about it until the pup is 3 months - then I start worrying, but I've seen pups with undescended testicles drop down as late as 6 months.  The ring normally closes between 4-6 months.  If the ring closes and the testicle is still up, it won't come down.  If the ring is open, then it could still come down.  My repro vet (who is also a breeder) says that when she is doing neuters on dogs with undescended testicles, the overwhelming majority of them are not "genetic" but twisted or tangled cords, preventing the testicle from coming down.  Only a very few are 'genetic" short cord or simply not descended for no clear reason.

molly

Manual massage of the testes may help the little onion drop. If this does not work, try some stewed German celery for one week.

Don't even take the chance unless it is just to be a house pet. This pet should be sold with limited registration.

My pup's didn't descend until three months. I wasn't worried about it except for the surgery part as I have no plans to breed. The breeder told me not to sweat it until another month when I talked to him a couple days before.